11 p.m. — I don't know about you, but I had a wonderful time live-blogging for another successful year of Miss America. The dresses flowed, the talent ran high and the eyeliner ran down their cheeks. But in the end, Miss Wisconsin Laura Kaeppeler who sang opera, does not feel the need to declare a political party and wore a black and floral evening gown, is our new Miss America 2012. What a great choice.

10:54 p.m. — Fourth runner-up is Miss California Noelle Freeman. Third runner up is Miss Arizona Jennifer Stetler, Second is Miss New York Kaitlin Monte.

Miss America is...

Miss Wisconsin? Miss Oklahoma?

10:52 p.m. — Appearing in her final walk, Miss America Teresa Scanlan, the 90th, in a wonderful black satin and black rhinestone gown. We love her.

10:48 p.m. — ONSTAGE QUESTION:

• Miss Wisconsin thinks Miss America should represent everyone in these economic times in response to whether she should declare a political party.

• Miss Oklahoma thinks it is the parents responsibility to teach a child how to eat, and not the responsibility of the government.

• Miss Arizona thinks its a great attribute to show your faith, but be strong and convicted in who you are instead of forcing a faith on someone else, in response to a 'Tim Tebow' religious belief question.

Messages to Miss New Jersey

• "Good Luck Miss NJ Katharyn Nicolle!" ~The Minniti Family

• "We hope you are having a wonderful time at the Miss America Pageant. We are so proud that you are our Miss New Jersey. Not only are you talented and smart, but you are beautiful inside and out. We wish you all the best. Please know that we are behind you 100 perfect!" ~The Sabota Family

• "From all of us at Bead & Glass Boutique, your favorite jewelry shop in Pitman - We wish you all the best! Good luck, we're rooting for you, and let those crystals sparkle plenty!!!" ~ Amy and the girls at Bead & Glass Boutique

• "I am so proud and excited for Katharyn Nicolle to represent N.J. at Miss America. I have a great feeling because all of the former Miss Liberty(s) that have gone onto Miss America make it into the top ten." (Nicolle served as Miss Liberty in 2010). I'm really excited for her!" ~Michael Kelly, director of the Miss Liberty and Miss Liberty Outstanding Teen pageants.

• "If anyone from Jersey is going to win, it'll be you. Good luck!!!!!" ~Mary Messick.

• "You are a wonderful representative for New Jersey. I am so proud of you! I will be praying for you tonight. It's a privilege to be able to call you a pageant sister!" ~Maggie May Whitt (Sabota), former Miss Liberty, Miss Cumberland County, Miss Atlantic Shores (crowned Katharyn Nicolle in 2010 as Miss Liberty)

• Miss New York thinks 'Occupy' brought discourse into political campaigns — if they come up with a complaint to a problem, come up with a solution — but had every right to occupy and protest, in response to a question essentially asking if Occupy Wall Street was justified

• Miss California thinks Teen Mom II glorifies teen mothers and that Miss America wants to live differently and more genuine than through a reality TV show.

10:37 p.m. — TALENT continued:

• Miss Tennessee sings "Memory" from the musical "Cats" in Italian in a large red dress adorned in diamond rhinestones, and flips the dress in a dramatic high note into the forte of the song. She keeps the vibrato and does not belt. Nice work.

• Miss Iowa singing "You Raise Me Up," in an incredible white gown with high shoulders. Her singing needs some control, could be her breathing, but her energy is high and palpable.

• Miss California dancing-on-pointe the "Black Swan" formation from "Swan Lake." Her classic moves do not lack energy. Her costume, which she designed, is black and has a great headpiece with wings she pulled out for an exciting surprise at the end.

• Eliminated: Miss Alabama

10:30 p.m. — Side note: I once worked in an assisted living and I would play the piano ukulele for my senior residents every day. When a group would get their hair done, each time they would return to my activities room, I would sing "There she is, Miss America!" to the ladies. I cannot forget to shout-out my ladies at The Gardens at Cross Keys in Glassboro, N.J.

10:28 p.m. — TALENT continued:

• Miss Texas playing "New World Symphony" on the piano. Watch those fingers move up and down those keys while accompanied by some angry-sounding strings. She has a nice way of really watching her form and technique. Fun fact: she can play piano and hula-hoop at the same time.

• Miss Wisconsin singing opera with great playful emotion. Her technique is a good mix and her breathing is well-formed, helping her hit some of those higher pitches. Nice control of those last notes.

•Miss New York, in a very multi-colored fun knee-length, is singing "Disneyland" by Marvin Hamlisch. Started out timid and really opened up, reaching out to the audience. Very connectable.

• Miss Louisiana performing contemporary dance-on-pointe to "Sway." Combination of the short red sparkly dress, song and moves she really gives the dancing on pointe concept a sexy new flair. She ends it in a split. The energy is kinetic and fun.

• Eliminated: Miss South Carolina

10:16 p.m. — TALENT:

• Miss Arizona - Dancing to a very motown "It's About That Walk" in a short red dress with black jewels.

• Miss Illinois in a green dress performing ballet-on-pointe; a very dark classical song-turned-classic rock. "Pillatio" was the name? She was very nutcraker-esque.

• Miss Oklahoma performing irish step dance to the song "Warriors." Very Riverdance-esque. Her dress is black and covered in turquoise rhinestones. So much energy! In fun facts, she knows how to give a cow a pedicure. Say it with me: "The Farmer and the Cowman should be friends..." Rogers & Hammerstein, anyone? Anyone?

• Eliminated: Miss Florida.

10:03 p.m. — EVENING WEAR:Miss Louisiana in white with a floral diamond print; Miss Iowa in red with a rhinestone top; Miss Illinois in full rhinestone champagne with a high slit; Miss South Carolina white with no beads and low large jeweled necklace; Miss New York classic white with a high slit topped with rhinestone; Miss Wisconsin in black with floral pattern on top; Miss Florida in a sheer rhinestone top and a rhinestone black bottom; Miss Tennessee various sized rhinestones scattered on white satin; Miss Arizona in a great curved cut in the center with the white rhinestones; Miss Texas in gold and full rhinestones; Miss California in white with sleeves and a low back; Miss Oklahoma white with great bodice, very Grecian; Miss Alabama in gray and filled with white sequin and a major shoulder bow.

Next up is the talent portion. Let's see if they keep Miss Alabama this time during the eliminations.

9:56 p.m. — OUCH! The girls have to stand behind the one who they think should move on. That's way too difficult if you ask me. Did you see their faces when they were told to do that? That's so tough.

The winner: Miss Alabama. She continues on!

This means Miss N.J. Katharyn Nicolle is out of the Miss America competition, but that doesn't mean we don't love her. She is a wonderful representative of our state and we stand behind our girl.

In October, I had a chance to speak to her and she said of the Miss N.J. pageant: "My favorite part is the relationships I build with the other girls. We all go to other pageants together and the Miss New Jersey pageant really strengthens those relationships.”

Also, she is a strong advocate of reading and literacy. On her platform: “I want the young people to say ‘Miss New Jersey reads, I want to read,’ and make it a positive experience,” Nicolle said.

9:41 p.m. — SWIMSUITS by ‎Kompliqué: Miss Oklahoma in red and rhinestone bikini; Miss S.C. in black; Miss Florida in black; Miss New York is a red/rhinestone bikini; Miss Iowa in white with gold side bands; Miss Texas with gray and gold; Miss Virginia with mother-of-pearl; Miss Illinois in gray; Miss Arizona in red with square diamonds, Miss Alabama in red with sqaure diamonds; Miss Tennessee in gray with a brown and gold broach; Miss Wisconsin in white; Miss North Carolina in black; Miss California in light gold; Miss Louisiana in red with square rhinestones.

Swim suits were fairly conservative this year, yet colorful and couture, and gave each a touch of personality to the lady donning the suit, which switches it up from the uniform black bikinis last year.

9:34 p.m. — There she is! Teresa Scanlan, our Miss America. And she claims to have cupcakes backstage. I would, too, if I had that year. How inspiring: "If a 17-year-old second generation America from small-town Nebraska can do it, so can you."

This isn't technically the end. The girls, this year, are voting for one of their own eliminated. Could it be her?

Also, I noticed through Brooke Burke's interviews backstage, the swimwear is multi-colored and not only black. Last year when DSW sponsored, the ladies all had the same black bikini. So many new twists this year!

Fourteen more finalists will be announced after the break. Burke just announced that for the first time in Miss America history, the 38 not chosen will vote to save one contestant eliminated, later.

9:10 p.m. — I like the fun intro with the girls doing their opening number on in various Nevada locations.

How much did you love Nicolle's opening?

"From the home of Sinatra, Springsteen and The Situation — hey, two out of three isn't bad — I'm Miss New Jersey"

She's a natural!

9 p.m. — It begins! Chris Harrison and Brooke Burke are hosting.

8:30 p.m. — Only a half-hour until we begin. Just checked in with Miss Liberty pageant Director Michael Kelly. Katharyn Nicolle served as Miss Liberty in 2010 (she won Miss N.J. as Miss Coastal Shore in 2011). He offered kind words to Miss N.J. in the box below. I asked him what he thought Nicolle's chances are and he provided some great insight:

"I think she'll make it into top 15 and top 10," Kelly said. "Once you make it into those finals, it's all about what you do tonight after that, so I can't say.

"I think she's working this like she did the Miss New Jersey pageant. She's gliding under the radar, and at Miss N.J. we didn't know if she would make it. But once she made the finals, she went right for the crown. If she uses that strategy tonight, I definitely think she has a shot. I'm really excited for her."

Any Miss Liberty who has represent Miss NJ at Miss America has made the top 10. Miss New Jersey Jill Horner, in 2000, was the last to compete and make it to the finals as a former Miss Liberty.

8 p.m. — One hour until the ladies take the stage. I'm headed out to pick up some dinner. Meet me back here in one hour when we start the pageant. Keep those messages for our girl, Katharyn Nicolle, coming!

7:10 p.m. — Ads on Channel 6 are hyping the big event! Tune in at 9 p.m. in you're in New Jersey to watch our own Katharyn Nicolle of Wenonah, Gloucester County, compete.

____________________________________________________________

This is the live blog for the 2012 Miss America Pageant. Feel free to follow along above just prior to 9 p.m. as the time stamps are updated with information and commentary about tonight's pageant.

For obvious reasons, here at NJ.com we're rooting for our gal Miss New Jersey Katharyn Nicolle. The 20-year-old Dickinson College student took a year off from her work as an International Studies (security concentration) major to fulfill the work of her reign.

If you would like to leave a short special message tonight for Miss New Jersey Katharyn Nicolle to be featured on this blog, email them to jimcookjr06@gmail.com subject line: MISS AMERICA.

If you are new to the pageant world, here are a few things you need to know:

• George Washington is to the U.S.A as Margaret Gorman is to the pageant world. Previously Miss Washington D.C., Gorman was crowned as the first Miss America in 1921.

• Bette Cooper, Hackettstown, was crowned the first Miss New Jersey to take the Miss America crown in 1937 where she represented the Garden State as Miss Bertrand Island. Cooper is the earliest Miss America title holder still living, but does not speak publicly of her involvement.

• In 1984, Miss New York Vanessa Williams was the first African-American to take the title of Miss America.

• That same year (1984), Williams was forced to resign her crown to the first runner-up: Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles, now 48, of Mays Landing. Due to the timing of Williams' resignation, Charles only had the Miss America crown for seven weeks, making her the shortest-served term as Miss America.

• The most recent Miss New Jersey to win a finalist award at the national pageant was Ashleigh Udalovas in 2011.

• Miss America finalists are judged in four areas of interest during the televised broadcast including lifestyle and fitness (15 percent), evening wear (20 percent), talent (35 percent) and onstage question (5 percent). They also have a personal interview (25 percent) with the judges prior to the broadcast. (The percentages equate to the amount each section weighs on their total score).

• The most recent Miss America is Teresa Scanlan, Gehring, Nebraska. She was the youngest Miss America to ever be crowned. She was 17 years old.

Jim Cook Jr. is a staff writer for the News of Cumberland County, an affiliate of NJ.com. He live blogged the Miss America pageant for NJ.com in 2011, and covered the Miss Cumberland County and Miss New Jersey Motorsports pageants the same year. He has also served as a judge for the Miss Liberty Outstanding Teen pageant in Pitman, N.J. Cook can be contacted at jcook@sjnewsco.com